Browse Historical Events by Day: What Happened on December 25th?

The first recorded solar eclipse in ancient Babylonia, which marked the beginning of systematic astronomical observations.

The siege of Jerusalem by the Roman general Titus ends with the destruction of the Second Temple.

The Roman emperor Augustus celebrates the Ludi Saeculares, a secular games event, marking the end of a saeculum (a generation) and the beginning of a new one.

The traditionally celebrated birth of Jesus Christ, though the exact date remains a subject of debate among scholars.

Herod the Great dies, according to some estimates, around this date. Herod is known for his role in the Nativity story.

Pope Julius I officially establishes December 25 as the date of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, now known as Christmas.

Roman Emperor Constantius II decrees that the pagan festival of Sol Invictus coincides with Christmas, promoting Christianity.

Charlemagne becomes the King of the Franks after the death of his brother Carloman I.

The Danelaw, a region of England under Viking control, sees a series of treaties between the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons.

The coronation of Stephen I as the first Christian king of Hungary, marking the establishment of the Kingdom of Hungary and Hungary's conversion to Christianity.

Sweyn Forkbeard is proclaimed King of England after the English nobility submits to him. Sweyn had built a strong an imposing Danish North Sea empire, establishing control in Norway in 1000 and conquering England in 1013. He died there on February 1014, having ruled England for only five weeks. Sweyn's cause of death is unknown.

William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, following the Norman conquest.

General George Washington and 2,400 Continental soldiers cross the Delaware River in a treacherous storm for a surprise attack against Hessian mercenary forces at Trenton, New Jersey. More

The Christmas Truce of 1914. Although fighting continued in many parts of the Western Front, a rare heart-warming display of humanity in the history of human conflict takes place in some sections. By Christmas of that year there were millions of soldiers dug in trenches packed together and living in freezing conditions. On Christmas Eve German troops began unwrapping gifts from home and singing Christmas carols and soon the British and French troops joined in. Christmas greetings and well wishes were exchanged, and offers of a temporary ceasefire were communicated between the trenches. On Christmas morning, The troops began to greet one another, messages and gifts were exchanged and spontaneous games of football(soccer) were rumored to have happened. More

An earthquake and tsunami in Northern Chile result in significant loss of life and destruction.

The first Kwanzaa celebration is held, a week-long holiday honoring African heritage in African American culture.

Vietnam invades Cambodia, leading to the eventual downfall of the Khmer Rouge regime.

The Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR approved the Law of the RSFSR "On renaming of the state of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic", which took effect immediately. The new name of the state was the Russian Federation (Russia) Effective dissolving the USSR. The Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin and then replaced by the tricolor Russian Federation flag. More